Corel - VideoStudio Pro X2 Ultimate review
The video editing software market is pretty much split into two categories. There's the real high-end, professional editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro and then you have your dumbed-down home editing suites like Adobe Premiere Elements, Final Cut Express or
There's nothing wrong with these more concise, consumer-led bits of software. After all, why splash out nearly a grand for a piece of software when you're only going to use a small portion of the features? When you are making creative home movies you want the process to be quick and enjoyable, and if you can get a more basic editing suite for a fraction of the price of the big boys, then all the better.
When you look at the titles ‘Adobe Premiere Elements' or ‘Final Cut Express', what do you notice? The word ‘pro' has been cut from the title and replaced with something that insinuates a mere essence of its larger counterpart. Corel, however, has an annoying habit of leaving the word ‘Pro' in. For Corel, what matters is that you can create professional looking and sounding videos: how you got there doesn't matter so much.
When you load up VideoStudio Pro X2 you're given the option to delve straight into the video-editing suite, be taken through the process using the Movie Wizard or use the ‘DV to DVD Wizard'. This second option is designed specifically for those who have never dabbled in video editing before and offers a clear and intuitive workspace without the fuss of a complicated timeline.
For this review we were more concerned with the full-featured VideoStudio Editor. On loading up VideoStudio the interface could look a little daunting to those with little experience of editing. However, after a short tour around the main windows, tabs and drop-down menus it's pleasing to see that the set-up is pretty user-friendly. It also looks very familiar. Since Corel's acquisition of Ulead, the core essence of the suite hasn't changed much from the Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11 days.
The basic interface is made up of a timeline, your media library and a preview window. The main window is kept pretty sleek and fuss-free thanks to a series of tabs letting you change your view between ‘Capture', ‘Edit', ‘Effects', ‘Overlay', ‘Title', Audio' and ‘Share'. You can import your media files easily enough using the upper toolbar. However, it's also possible to drag and drop any video files you want to include into your ‘rushes' straight into the Library.
The principle for making your movies is the same as in the previous Ulead version, or indeed any timeline-based video software. By dragging your video rushes or audio clips into the timeline below you can construct your movie with split-second precision. Smooth transitions are made possible with VideoStudio's auto clipping, or alternatively you can carry out a Single Clip Trim to take out individual cells before you place them into your timeline.
There's a pretty wide selection of basic intro clips, audio samples and frame transitions available in the library to start off, meaning you can get going pretty much straight away. However, these aren't named or sorted by category, so you either have to waste a lot of time before you edit in going through the thumbnails, previewing their content and editing their tags, or go through the entire selection every time you need new content.
Once you get into the swing of things, making your video is satisfyingly simple. The timeline is quick to edit and you can easily chop and change scenes or audio without too much fuss. We managed to create a fun, creative, 2-minute video complete with soundtrack in about 20 minutes.
One thing we did notice, however, was that audio seemed to go missing for newly added video with a soundtrack on immediate playback. However, after playing back the video for the second time the audio reappeared and all glitches were fixed, so this seemed to be a bug in the program.
Some of the key changes since Ulead VideoStudio 11 concentrate on the Export options. If you want to share your movies with the world then the new, easy YouTube uploading option allows you to sign into your YouTube account and encode your movies in FLV whilst remaining within Video Studio X2. You can also add details like ‘tags' or change privacy options straight from here. Apple iPhone lovers will also be pleased to see new support for their device.
Rendering speeds have been stepped up a notch as have the possibilities for HD work, specifically improved capture and import features from AVCHD, Blu-Ray Disc and JVC HD camcorders. For that full, high-def, surround sound experience there are some excellent audio options available using the Surround Sound Mixer. Plus, if you want to get creative with video effects there are also new freehand draw features to add to the Chroma Key effects.
Corel - VideoStudio Pro X2 Ultimate features - Verdict
Corel's VideoStudio Pro X2 Ultimate offers some great editing opportunities at a reasonable price. Despite the ‘Pro' tag, making an enjoyable, professional looking video is a possibility even for the complete novice. The Movie Wizard option is good for introducing users to the basics of video-editing before they venture into the full suite. Some of the included library assets are a little tacky and there are no clear categories or tags to help find suitable material quickly. Rendering times are reasonably quick and the new export features (particularly for YouTube) work well, especially with in-program log-in and uploading. If you aren't too fussed on sharing your files then you can save yourself a few pennies by seeking out the old Ulead software or indeed, Adobe Premiere Elements, as there's nothing radically different here in set-up.
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